Sustainable Fuels for High School Students: Synthesis of Biodiesel from an Amazon Region Oil (Babassu)

Abstract

We describe here a four-stage project on the synthesis of a sustainable fuel (biodiesel, BD) from an Amazon region oil, namely, babassu oil (BO). The project was carried out both at Humboldt high school (project discussion and evaluation) and at the Institute of Chemistry, the University of São Paulo, ChemUSP (properties of BO; synthesis of BD). The students were asked to discuss aspects (origin, economic and environmental) of (petroleum-based) diesel oil and BD; suggest a candidate oil/fat from the Amazon region and an alcohol for the synthesis of BD, and discuss experimental variables that bear on biofuel yield. The students discussed this assignment in class, as well as what they are going to do during the third (experimental) stage of the project, carried out at ChemUSP. The students determined the acid- and saponification number of BO, synthesized BD using an optimized experimental protocol, prepared mixtures of (BO + authentic BD) and were introduced to gas chromatography. The students evaluated the project positively because of the socioeconomic- and environmental relevance of BD, its production from an Amazon region oil, and their contact with ChemUSP. We recommend this project for high school students because of its simplicity, safety, low cost, and because the school/university contact is beneficial for both sides.